Law or Love?

My father-in-law and I met for coffee back in November and had a loving debate about religion. We went back and forth over whether it was more important to follow the laws, do right, and be good (his side!) or love God above all else and put the emphasis on your relationship with Him. (my side!)
I was doing my bible study homework this morning and studied this in Matthew. Point for me!!!! (hehe!)

In Matthew 12:
"At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, "Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.
Jesus said to them..."I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of the Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!"

When Jesus refers to the scriptures, he is talking about Hosea 6:6, "I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings."

The Pharisees could not see beyond their law's technicalities. They had no room for compassion, and they were determined to accuse Jesus of wrongdoing. Jesus was not condoning disobedience to God's laws, he was emphasizing discernment and compassion in enforcing the laws. The 10 Commandments require the Sabbath to be kept holy. The Pharisees had interpreted that to require a long list of actions that could not be done on the Sabbath, forcing people to rest. But the purpose of the Sabbath is to rest and worship God. The Pharisees had lost the spirit of the law and were rigidly demanding that the law be obeyed. They were so concerned with the religious rituals that they missed the whole purpose of the law- to bring people to God. If we become more concerned with the law, then we will miss God even as we think we are obeying him. When Jesus quotes Hosea, he tells us that our heart attitude toward God comes first. Only then can we properly obey and observe religious regulations and rituals.